Locking device for mail receptacles



Feb T. F. MURPHY 2,10,40

LOCKING DEVICE FOR MAIL RECEP'IACLES Filed Oqt. 1, 1936 nventox;

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(Ittorneg Patented Feb. 15, 1938 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 1,

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to alocking device for mail receptacles, and has for an object to provide an improved mechanism of this type which facilitates the handling and collection of mail in apartment houses, in rural districts, and in other places where one or more mail receptacles are used, and also relates to a type of receptacle which eliminates the usual letter slot so easily accessible to unauthorized persons for the removal of mail deposited in the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mail receptacle wherein the carrier may turn a handle to open the door of the box and serve the box by placing one or more pieces of mail therein the carrier may then trip a lock and close the door so that when the carrier turns the handle to secure the door shut, the door will then be locked and will be accessible only by use of an individual key in possession of the holder of the mail receptacle or by a master key which may be carried by the postman so that the postman may have ready access to a number of the mail receptacles by the use of a single key.

The invention also provides a, novel construction of lock and retaining and releasing means therefore which embodies characteristics wherein the locking bolt may be retracted by use of an individual key and also a master key, and wherein the bolt may be latched when retracted by either of the keys, the construction being a novel and simplified one for carrying out thesefeatures and wherein the lock may be relatively small and easily secured in place upon the inner side of the door of the mail receptacle.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, whereinlike symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of mail receptacle to which the locking device of this invention may be applied, the view showing the exterior handle or knob and the escutcheon elements for the individual and master keys.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the door of the receptacle in open position. 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view with the door and adjacent wall of the lock casing removed, the parts shown in locked position.

Figure 4 is a similar view but with the holdin fingers released and the locking bolt latched back in retracted position.

Figure 5 is a vertical'section taken through the same substantially on. the line 5-5 of. Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the bolt holding latch.

1936, Serial No. 103,590

of a number of different types of mail receptacles, l designates the body of the receptacle which is provided with a door H shown in the present instance as mounted by hinges 52 at its lower end to the bottom of the receptacle l0 so that the door swings upwardly into closed position. It is readily appreciated that the receptacle l0 may be of any other desired construction and that the door ll. may be hinged otherwise than is shown to any desired portionof the receptacle.

The receptacle i0 is provided with a marginal flange or keeper 3 at its open end or side and the upper part of the door it is provided on its inner side with a holding finger I l the inner end of which is in the form of a disc I mounted upon a shaft it which extends through the door H and has a handle or knob Il upon its outer end and disposed at the outer side of the door. By turning the knob I! the holding finger I4 is swung into and out of engagement beneath or against the inner side of the keeper flange 53.

The disc 95 is provided with a slot or recess I8 at its edged portion diametrically opposite the holding finger I4 so that when the finger M is swung into raised position, as shown in Figure 3, the slot i8 opens downwardly for the reception of a locking bolt 59 which is slidably mounted in a lock casing secured to the inner side of the door in proximity to the disc l5. Of course the locking bolt I9 and its casing 20 may be mounted upon the door in any desired angular position about the shaft, depending upon the location of the finger l4 relatively to the slot or recess I8 in the disc.

The bolt i9 is centrally located in the upper part of the casing 20 and operates through a slot 2! in the upper edge of the casing. The inner end of the bolt I9 is provided with a laterally oiiset tail piece 22 which is slidably disposed against one edge of the casing 20 and extends downwardly through the casing and through the lower wall thereof as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper portion of the tail piece 22 is of substantial thickness, and is provided with a recess 23 disposed at the inner end of the bolt !9 for the reception of the upper curved end of a double spring 24, the spring having one or more convolutions 25 therein engaging over a pin 26 carried by the casing for anchoring the upper part of the spring 2d and holding it in position to bear against the bolt l9 and normally urge the latter upwardly into engagement with the disc l5.

The tail piece 22 of the locking bolt is provided with two spaced apart shoulders or projections 27 and 28 disposed respectively in the upper and lower portions of the lock casing 20. The lock casing 20 is provided with a lock cylinder 29 which engages through the casing 20 and also through a suitable opening in the door l I so that the lock cylinder 29 is accessible from the outer side of the door to receive an individual key for manipulating the lock cylinder 29. The lock cylinder 29 carries a retraction lug 30 which is disposed above the shoulder 21 and which is adapted to swing down when the lock cylinder 29 is actuated by the particular key required for the operation of the lock, and to engage the shoulder 21 and force the bolt I9 downwardly within the casing 20.

The tail piece 22 is offset toward the back of the casing 20 from a point a short distance below the shoulder 21 to provide a recess or way 3! in the tail piece across which extends a latch bar 32. The latch bar 32, as shown in Figure 6, may be constructed of a pair of one half thickness blanks welded or otherwise suitably secured together with their extremities bent outwardly at right angles to provide a thumb piece 33 at one end of the latch bar, and this end of the latch projects through the adjacent edge portion of the casing. The other end of the latch bar extends through the opposite end of the casing 20 and with the general plane of the latch bar at right angles to the lateral walls of the lock casing. The latch bar 32 is provided at its forward end, or the end adjacent the thumb piece 33, with an outwardly facing shoulder 34 adapted to ride against the inner edge of the tail piece 22 of the bolt. The tail piece 22 is provided at its inner edge and adjacent the shoulder 27 with an upwardly facing seat or shoulder 21 over which the shoulder 34 is adapted to snap when the bolt I9 is retracted for holding the bolt from upward movement in the casing 20.

The lower end of the double spring 24 bears against the adjacent edge of the casing 20 and near its lower extremity is rolled into one or more convolutions 36 engaging on a pin or post 31 carried by the casing for anchoring the lower end of the double spring. The free extremity of the double spring, indicated at 38, extends up wardly from the post 3! and engages in a notch 39 provided in the rear portion of the latch bar 32 opposite the shoulder 34; the free extremity 3B of the spring normally urging the latch bar into projected position, as shown in Figure 4. The latch bar 32 is provided with a stepped portion 49 providing a stop shoulder adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the casing 29 to limit the depression of the latch bar when released from the locking bolt l9.

The lower shoulder 28 of the tail piece 22 extends inwardly beyond the shoulder 21 and is adapted to lie in the path of the ward or other projections carried by a master key insertible through the escutcheon disc 4| mounted in the front face of the door II. The escutcheon disc is adapted to receive a master key such as may be supplied to mail carriers and other authorized persons so that the single key may be used for any desired number of the mail receptacles.

In the use of the improved locking device, the parts being mounted on the door II as shown, when the mail carrier approaches the receptacle he may turn the handle IT to release the door I I. This turning of the handle rotates the shaft l6, disc l5 and holding finger l4 so that the latter may be swung in either direction from the position shown in Figure 3 into the position shown in Figure 4. This operation releases the door from the keeper I3 so that the door may be swung down into open position as shown in Figure 2.

If the holding finger I4 is locked in its holding position so that the knob I1 cannot be turned, such as when the holder of the mail receptacle places mail therein for collection, or where the prior deposited mail has not been removed from the box between times of delivery, the mail carrier may insert his master key in the escutcheon disc 4| and turn the same to engage the lower shoulder 28 and retract the bolt I9 from engagement with the disc l5. This position is shown in Figure 4. When the bolt I9 is retracted to a predetermined extent the spring end 38 slides the latch bar 32 outwardly to engage over the shoulder 35 of the tail piece and thus hold the bolt retracted.

The carrier now deposits mail in the receptacle l9 and, before he closes the door ll, presses the thumb piece 33 of the latch bar with the result that the latch bar, retracted from the shoulder 34 and the upper end of the double spring, releases the bolt and the latter springs outwardly against the edge of the disc I5. The door II is now swung into closed position and the carrier turns the knob I'I into such position that the finger M is moved back of the keeper I3. The knob I? may be given any desired configuration such as oblong or elliptical form, as shown in Figure 1, so that the holding position of the finger i l may be determined from the outer side of the door by the particular positioning of the knob ll.

As the finger M swings into holding position, the recess I8 is brought into register with the bolt I9 with the result that the bolt snaps into locking position with the disc, as shown in Figure 3, and the door is locked. The door cannot now be opened unless the bolt I9 is retracted, and access cannot be gained to the bolt except by use of an individual key for the lock cylinder 29 or the master key for insertion through the escutcheon disc tl.

The locking device thus may be used on receptacles having no mail slot and access may be readily had to the contents of the box only by the holder of the box or the carrier or other ofiicial who is supplied with the master key. The construction is relatively simple, particularly as to the bolt I9 and its tail piece 22 which admits of the retraction of the bolt with either the individual or the master key and of the latching of the bolt in retracted position when operated by either of the keys. The construction is economical to manufacture and applies to boxes of various types and cannot readily get out of order and the mechanism is such that it is not complicated and is easy to handle by the proper persons authorized to gain access to the box.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:-

What is claimed is:

1. A locking device for mail receptacles, comprising a knob operated holding finger adapted to be mounted on the door of a mail receptacle and adapted to be turned into and out of engagement with the body of the receptacle to hold and release the door, a spring pressed bolt mounted on said door biased to a locking position with said finger when the latter is in door holding position to lock the door, an individual key operated retracting device operable on the bolt to withdraw the same from said finger, a master key operated retracting device also operable on the bolt to retract the same from said finger, a spring actuated latching member for the bolt to retain the same retracted and manually operative means for moving said latching member to free the same from the bolt to enable the bolt to latch the finger.

2. A locking device for mail receptacles, comprising knob actuated holding means adapted to be secured to the door of a mail receptacle for maintaining the same closed, a locking bolt mounted on the inner side of the door in proximity to said device and biased into interlocking engagement with the device when the latter is in door holding position, an individual key receiving member carried by the door operable on said bolt to retract the same and release said device by insertion and operation of a predetermined key, a master key receiving element mounted on the door in proximity to the bolt for receiving and supporting a master key, means on the bolt adapted to be engaged by the master key for engaging and retracting the bolt, and a releasable latch bar carried upon the inner side of the door for interlocking engagement with the bolt when retracted by either of said key devices and adapted to be manually released for freeing the bolt for cooperation with the holding device.

3. A locking device for mail receptacles, com prising a movable holding device adapted for mounting upon the door of a mail receptacle and adapted to be turned into holding position for securing the door closed, a spring pressed locking bolt mounted on the door for interlocking engagement with said device when in holding position to lock the door closed, individual key means disposed adjacent the bolt for retracting the same and releasing said device by use of an individual key, and master key means disposed adjacent the bolt for retracting the same independent of said individual key means to retract the bolt by a master key, and a single latch means operable on the bolt for holding the same in retracted position when released from the holding device and having a manually engageable part for releasing the latch means to free said bolt.

4. A locking device for mail receptacles, comprising a knob actuated holding device adapted to be mounted upon the inner side of the door of a mail receptacle and adapted to be moved into holding position to secure the door in closed position, a sliding spring pressed bolt mounted on the inner side of the door adjacent said device for interlocking engagement therewith when in a holding position to lock the door closed, a manually releasable latch mounted on the inner side of the door for engaging the bolt when retracted to hold the bolt out of engagement with the holding device and adapted to be released from the inner side of' the door to free the bolt for movement into locking position, and independent individual and master key operated means carried by the bolt at spaced points thereon forindependent operation of, the bolt to retract the same from looking position.

5. A locking device for mail receptacles, comprising a disc having a holding finger projecting from one edge and provided with a recess in an opposite edge, a knob having a shaft adapted to be secured through the door of a mail receptacle and secured to said disc for turning the same and moving the finger into and out of holding position to maintain the door closed, a spring pressed sliding bolt mounted on the inner side of the door adjacent said disc and adapted to project into the recess of the disc for looking the same against turning when the finger is in holding position, said bolt having a tail piece provided with spaced apart retracting shoulders, and a transversely disposed latch bar extending across said tail piece and normally urged in one direction for interlocking engagement with the bolt when retracted and adapted to be manually released for freeing the bolt for movement into locking position, said shoulders being adapted to be engaged by separate individual and master keys, to move the bolt out of engagement with the disc.

6. A locking device for mail receptacles, comprising a rotatable holding device adapted to be mounted upon the inner side of the door of a mail receptacle and adapted to be turned into holding position for maintaining the door closed, a lock casing mounted upon the inner side of the door adjacent said holding device, a bolt slidably mounted in the casing, a spring in the casing engaging the bolt for normally urging the latter outwardly into interlocking engagement with said holding device when in holding position, said bolt having a laterally ofiset tail piece slidably mounted in one side of the casing and provided with lengthwise spaced apart shoulders, a lock cylinder mounted through the door and said casing and having a retracting lug disposed in the path of one of said shoulders for engaging the same and retracting the bolt when the corresponding individual key is inserted and operated in the lock cylinder, and a rotatable escutcheon disc carried by the door adjacent the second shoulder of the bolt tail piece for the reception of a master key to hold the same in position for engaging said second shoulder and retracting the bolt for rotation of the key.

7. A locking device for mail receptacles comprising a disc rotatably mounted on the inner side of the door of a mail receptacle and having an operating knob at the outer side of said door for turning the disc, said disc having a holding finger at one edge to engage the body of the receptacle when turned to holding position for maintaining the door closed and having a bolt receiving slot in its opposite edge, a lock casing secured to the inner side of the door, a spring pressed bolt mounted in the casing adapted to engage said disc and to project into the slot thereof when said finger is in holding position, an individual lock cylinder mounted through the door and disposed in the casing and having a retracting lug at one side operably upon the insertion and turning of the corresponding indivi-dual key, a master key disc mounted in said door and facing the interior of the casing for the reception of a master key, saidbolt having a tail piece slidably mounted in the casing and provided with a shoulder for receiving said lug thereagainst and a second:- shoulder for receiving a master key mounted in said disc, said shoulder adapted for co-operation with said lug and said master key for retracting the bolt from said disc and admit the turning thereof to release the door, and a spring pressed latch bar slidably mounted in an edgewise position through said casing and across the bolt tail piece, said tail piece having a stop shoulder over which said latch bar is adapted to snap when the bolt is retracted for holding the bolt in releasing position, said'latch bar projecting beyond the casing and being manually retractable from the inner side of the. door to release said bolt for movement toward a locking position.

THOMAS F. MURPHY. 

